Chairman FBR assures to look into the tax issues of business community for redress
- April 03, 2023
Asim Ahmad, Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue said that the
business community is playing a key role in the development of the economy and
assured that he would look into their tax issues for redress. He said that the budget
making process is in progress and ICCI should submit its written budget proposals for
consideration and incorporation in the final budget. He appreciated the initiative of
ICCI for acknowledging the role of top taxpayers in the region and said that it would
help promote tax culture. He expressed these views while talking to a delegation of
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry that called on him led by Ahsan Zafar
Bakhtawari, President.
Tariq Mahmood Pasha, Special Assistant to PM on Revenue said that there is a trust
deficit between the taxpayers and the tax collectors and stressed the need of taking
measures to build confidence between the two important stakeholders of the
economy. He said that it is very important to create a relationship of trust and
confidence between the tax collectors and the taxpayers in order to enhance the tax
base and improve tax revenue of the country. He hoped that ICCI would play a role to
achieve this goal.
Speaking at the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of
Commerce & Industry apprised the Chairman FBR about the various tax issues of the
business community that needed his attention for redress. said that the completion
date of construction projects under the amnesty scheme will be expiring on
30 th  September 2023 and requested that this scheme should be further extended, at
least for 2 years to facilitate the completion of ongoing projects under this scheme. He
said that ICCI should be given representation in FBR tax committees that would help
build confidence between the taxpayers and the FBR and improve tax culture. He said
that ICCI plans to confer awards on the highest taxpayers from every sector of the
economy in order to acknowledge their key role in the tax contribution. He said that
the Prime Minister of Pakistan would be invited as Chief Guest to that event. He said
that the highest tax collecting officers of FBR should also be conferred awards to
recognize their hard work and dedication. He further said that the top 10 highest
taxpayers of the country should be conferred civil awards on 23 rd  March by the
President of Pakistan on the recommendation of FBR that would encourage tax culture
in the country. He said that a level playing field should be given to businesses on the
installation of POS devices.
Faad Waheed, Senior Vice President ICCI said that due to ban on imports and LCs issue,
the industrial activities are badly suffering and stressed that the government should
look into this issue to address the concerns of industries.
Engr. Muhammad Azhar ul Islam Zafar, Vice President ICCI said that high taxes on the
construction sector is affecting its business activities and said that FBR should
reconsider them.
Khalid Iqbal Malik, Zafar Bakhtawari and Khalid Javed, former Presidents ICCI also
shared useful proposals to improve tax base and increase tax revenue of the country.